Sometimes when a historic home is moved, it loses its sense
of place and some historic value. But when that home was used by General George
Washington and has the distinction of being his last headquarters during the
Revolutionary War, historians make exceptions. Rockingham has not been moved
once or twice, but three times throughout its life. This simple, two-and-a-half
story structure now sits on twenty-six acres of land, its final resting place.
The story of Rockingham involves many, not just those during the American
Revolution, but those individuals who worked to preserve this historic
structure.

Originally located on the Georgetown-Franklin Turnpike, the
first section of Rockingham was built circa 1710 by the Higgins family. In
1735, John Berrien purchased the house and about one hundred acres. John
Berrien served as a Somerset County Judge in 1739, Trustee for the College of
New Jersey (today Princeton University), became a New Jersey Supreme Court
Justice in 1764 and finally served as an Assemblyman for the colony of New
Jersey. Berrien enlarged the house for his growing family in the 1760s, adding
the two-story front porch and a kitchen wing. He gradually added land to his
estate, eventually totaling over 360 acres. Berrien passed away in 1772. His
wife continued to live at the property after his death.

Rockingham on its original site, circa 1890s.

Rockingham gained historical importance in 1783. A number
of Pennsylvania troops marched upon Philadelphia in June of that year,
requesting their pay. They had not received any pay in almost a year. Congress
was residing in Philadelphia at that time and moved to Princeton after being
assured protection by the state.

In late July, Congress requested that Washington come to Princeton.
Washington was in Newburgh, New York, near West Point with the remains of the
standing army. By the time he received the message and was able to reply, it
was August. Accommodations on short notice were difficult to find in Princeton
since Congress had taken up a majority of the available homes. The only
suitable headquarters sat four miles away and belonged to the widow of John
Berrien. Mrs. Margaret Berrien was living in a townhome in Princeton and had
Rockingham up for sale at this time. Mrs. Berrien agreed to rent Rockingham and
its furnishings to the General and his entourage on a monthly basis. On August
23, 1783, General Washington, accompanied by his wife Martha, three
aides-de-camp, a small guard of two to three dozen soldiers including dragoons,
and servants and slaves, took up residence.

Rockingham, circa 1910.

George Washington occupied the house from August 23 to
November 9, 1783, while Congress met in Princeton and the treaty ending the war
was being negotiated in Paris. During his stay, Washington entertained
frequently. His list of guests included congressmen such as James Madison and
Elias Boudinot, military personnel such as General Nathaniel Greene and General
Benjamin Lincoln, Revolutionaries Robert Morris and Thomas Paine, and local
acquaintances such as Annis Stockton, the widow of Declaration of Independence
signer, Richard Stockton. Washington hosted at least one party with nearly
two-hundred guests in early September. He and Martha sat for portraits at
Rockingham. Charles Peale painted a portrait of Washington for Princeton
University to replace the one of King George III. Joseph Wright of Bordentown and
William Dunlap also painted portraits of George and Martha. However, while at
Rockingham, Martha Washington fell ill numerous times and in early October returned
Mount Vernon for the winter. Washington accompanied her to Trenton, where he
met General Greene and the two rode back to Princeton together.

Washington at the Battle of Princeton, 1777, painted in 1784 for Princeton University by Charles Peale.

In mid to late October, Washington wrote his 'Farewell
Orders to the Armies of the United States,' giving thanks and praise to his
troops and announcing his retirement from military service. The document was
sent out on October 30 to be read to the army at West Point on November 2 and
then published in Philadelphia newspapers. On October 31, 1783 Washington and
Congress received word that the Treaty of Paris had been signed, effectively
ending the Revolutionary War. On November 10, 1783, Washington left his brief
yet relaxing stay at Rockingham and returned to New York to oversee the
disbandment of the army.

After Washington’s stay, Mrs. Berrien moved back into the
home and sold the property in 1802 to Frederick Cruser. In 1841 Henry Duryee bought
the property and sold it to James Stryker Van Pelt in 1847. Van Pelt farmed the
land until 1869 when he sold it to David H. Mount. Martin Howell purchased the
home in 1872 and conveyed it to the Rocky Hill Quarry Company. By this time the
house had fallen into a deplorable state and its future was uncertain. The
quarry company used the mansion and outbuildings as temporary housing for Italian
laborers. In 1896 two women, Mrs. Josephine Swann and Mrs. Kate McFarlane, became
involved with a concerned group of citizens to save the house from demolition.
Mrs. Swann donated $1,200.00 to purchase the mansion from the quarry company.
The house and twenty acres of nearby land was then under the ownership of the
Washington Headquarters Association and it was moved three hundred yards up the
hill from the encroaching quarry. By August 25, 1897, the house was open for
guests.

Rockingham being moved for the third time in July 2001.

By 1957, Rockingham was once again moved away
from the encroaching quarry and the damage of the accompanying blasts. It was
moved approximately a half-mile east on Georgetown-Franklin Turnpike. The final
and last move occurred in 2001. In order to protect the building from
the quarry operation, the home and its outbuildings were moved to land near the
Delaware & Raritan Canal, about one mile from the original site. The
mansion was restored and reopened to the public in 2004. This new site,
pristine open space, allows visitors to step back in time uninterrupted by
daily life and experience the headquarters in which Washington wrote his last major
document as General of the Continental Army.

1 comments:

Thank you for the revolutionary history summary of the Berrien/Rockingham house. I was looking for a map of the various house locations as it moved each time but your description pretty much sums it up. Wonder what that area looked like before it became a quarry. Thanks again - Susan